SCALE-Con
Where Employers Shaped the Future Microelectronics Workforce
February 2-3, 2026
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C.
SCALE-Con was a strategic workforce engagement event to connect employers, students, faculty, and national leaders committed to strengthening the U.S. microelectronics workforce. Not a traditional career fair, SCALE-Con focused on students demonstrating their engineering skills, research, and career-ready expertise, giving employers insight into the talent pipeline supporting secure and defense-aligned microelectronics.
The event brought together universities, industry partners, and government stakeholders for two days of presentations, showcases, discussions, and networking.
Employers
See Talent in Action
At SCALE-Con, students presented real projects, applied research, and technical problem-solving skills developed through the SCALE program. Instead of collecting resumes, employers engaged directly with students to understand their capabilities and interests.
Through conversations with students and faculty, employers gained insight into:
Emerging technical skills
Research directions
Workforce gaps and collaboration opportunities
Build a Workforce Pipeline
SCALE-Con enabled employers to:
Engage with U.S. citizen students trained for secure microelectronics roles
Connect with universities located near operational sites
Influence how academic programs align with real-world industry needs
Hear from national leadership shaping the future of the defense microelectronics workforce.
Students
Students were the heart of SCALE-Con, and their contributions shaped the energy of the event. Throughout two days, they showcased the depth of their technical abilities through research posters, hands-on demonstrations, and project exhibits that reflected the skills they have gained through SCALE. These presentations gave employers and government partners a view into the emerging talent pipeline and relevance of the students’ work.
Beyond presenting, students engaged in keynote sessions, professional development activities, and discussions with industry representatives. These interactions provided insight into workforce expectations and potential career paths.
Students also had the opportunity to connect with peers from other SCALE universities, allowing them to compare experiences, share insights about their academic programs, and learn about research happening across the consortium.
Faculty
Faculty members played an essential role at SCALE-Con by representing their universities, supporting student presenters, and engaging directly with industry and government partners. Their involvement helped strengthen collaboration across the consortium and highlighted the academic programs preparing the next generation of the microelectronics workforce.
Faculty took part in:
Showcasing university programs and research strengths
Supporting student posters, demos, and technical presentations
Participating in roundtables and professional development sessions
Engaging with employers to discuss workforce needs and partnership opportunities
Contributing to cross-university collaboration discussions
Their participation reinforced the critical connection between academia, industry, and national workforce priorities.
Schedule-at-a-Glance
Sunday, February 1, 2026 - Arrival and Welcome
Booth set-up, early registration, and welcome receptions.
Monday, February 2, 2026 - Day 1
The first full day featured:
Registration and networking breakfast
Opening session and welcome remarks
University and consortium showcases
Professional development sessions
Industry workshops and roundtables
Cross-university trivia
An evening networking reception
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - Day 2
Day two included:
Networking breakfast
A keynote address
A fireside chat with Purdue President Mung Chiang
A student panel
Industry partner panel
Congressional briefing
Closing remarks and evaluations